FALL 2020 GiftofLifeFamilyHouse.org UPDaTe THE FAMILY HOUSE provesAND resilient CELEBRATES of supporting transplant 9YEARS families. Our mission remains strong because of a community of people like you. Nine years of caring for transplant families. Nine years of home-cooked meals served by compassionate volunteers. Nine years of shuttle rides back and forth from the hospital. And nine years of smiles, tears, hugs, and support from people who care. Nine years of a place to call home. For the health and safety of our community, several changes were made in accordance with the local, state and federal guidelines and Although the COVID-19 pandemic brought obstacles that new procedures were implemented. We installed protective shields, interrupted some of our usual operations, it didn’t stand in updated signage, moved our living room furniture to create more the way of our commitment to providing transplant families socially distant dining space – and much more. We also postponed with the affordable lodging, meals, and services they needed. our Home Cook Heroes in-house volunteer opportunities and paused our shuttle program. Half of our staff began working from home. The remaining staff who reported to the office as well as all in-house guests adhered to public health guidelines, wore face masks, participated in temperature checks and practiced social distancing. WE ARE PROUD TO SAY that the Family House proved its resilience and continued to serve transplant families. Lisa and her mom Joan stayed at the Family House together while Lisa recovered from a liver-kidney transplant. Although Joan had to return home in mid-March, Lisa remained at the Family House during what became the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. “Gift of Life Family House has been truly that, a gift,” Lisa says. “It is a privilege to have experienced this place in an unfamiliar city at a time of stress and uncertainty, and to benefit from all the resources, Lisa Coin in the Family House kitchen during her stay amenities and services that are provided.” continued on Family House page 2 9 YEARS, continued from Family House page 1 Rebecca, another guest, received a life-saving liver transplant in March. Unfortunately, she was in the hospital for weeks with no family by her side because of visitor restrictions. When she was discharged after her surgery and began her recovery, HOME COOKRecycledman Cooks she and her fiancée stayed at the Family House. “It was great to come to the Family House and meet others who understood what I was going through,” Rebecca says. “Although there were only a few of us there at the time, we were still able to Although in-house volunteer opportunities were postponed during talk and share our stories. I really wanted to be around others and the pandemic, many groups still supported the House through meal it was so helpful for me.” drop offsHeroes and financial and gift card donations to ensure our guests had a meal each evening. Rebecca found it comforting to have somewhere safe and welcoming to go during this time of stress and uncertainty. Recognizing Home Cook Heroes Volunteers Butterflies, Inc. January – May 2020 Abington-Jefferson ICU Hills Family Pedrick Family Addison’s Angels Hogan’s Heroes Peggy’s Peeps Al’s Pals Holy Ghost Preparatory School Penn Medicine Chester County ER Nurses Andrews Family Home2 Suites by Hilton Penn Presby Neuro Nurses April and Roman Homerun Bakers Penney Girls Foundation Assumption BVM Youth Group H-Town Helpers Philadelphia Chapter of the Association Athelstan-Lamberton Masonic Lodge HUP MICU of Legal Administrators No. 482 HUP Silverstein 11 Nurses Philadelphia Chapter USPCA Barrilli Family IDDPMI RAM Poplawski Family Beth O’Brien Group Independence Blue Cross, Blue Crew Pretty Bee’s Rebecca with her daughter Lexi after returning home from the Family House Blazers Ice Hockey Inspira Mullica Hill ICU Prism Student – PN 38 Further Her In Action Bodine High School Janice Schwartz-Donahue & Family Randon Family Boyle Family Janssen Inc. BRQC Group Recycledman Cooks WE ARE SO THANKFUL Boyscout Troop 176 Jefferson Bucks 2 North Rich & Christy O’Malley Brett Family Jefferson Center City Medical ICU Rivers of Love for a community that has stood with us for Bright Hope Baptist Church Women Jefferson City Medical ICU Rugters Gang nine years, especially during this difficult Bryson Family Jefferson Health – Northeast, Frankford Salvation Army DDP Butterflies INC Jefferson Hosp. Center City Medical ICU Satyra, Charles, and Friends! time, ensuring transplant families will have Care Crew Jefferson Marketing SEPA Ambassadors Carrie and Friends Jefferson Northeast Nurse Educators SightLife an affordable place to call home in the midst Charles’s Legacy Jefferson Perioperative Staff Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – JHN NICU Sparc Services of an incredibly challenging journey. Business Ops Kinkade/Collins SPN Girls CHOP – IS Service Desk Kirby Family St. Augustine Parish CHOP Feeding Team Knights of Columbus Council 11013 Surgical ICU Einstein Medical Center Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU, Columbus Forum Lodge #1492 KPMG Team Evie DURING THIS TIME WE RECEIVED: Comhar La Famiglia Dei Fratelli Team Kellie Congregation M’Kor Shalom Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 Team SayLess Encouraging notes to pass along to the Connie McDermott Lankaneu Hospital – Data Quality Team Spiers ❤ Crozer Chester Medical Center and Outcomes Teample Heart & Vascular PFAC families staying with us Davis Family Laura and Friends Temple Transplant Team Diane Meyer & Friends Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation The Bellevue ❤ Meal and gift card donations to support Drexel University – Gamma Sigma Sigma McDermott Family The Eckerle Family our Home Cook Heroes program Eckenrode/Connelly MTF Biologics The Pedrick Family Ed’s Eyes MTF Quality Assurance Team The Saturday Club Kids Cloth face masks and special ear guards Einstein MICU Mu Beta Phi Military Fraternity Inc. Tierney ❤ Family Nanticoke Hospital TJUH – 7 West created to wear them more comfortably First Judicial District National Disease Research Interchange Toni Newman & Friends Four Ladies & Friends NCL – Valley Forge Chapter UNICO Hand sanitizer donations The Randon Family ❤ Franklin Towne Charter High School Never Ending Emotions University City Kiwanis Pantry items Further Her in Action New Vision Pioneers UVA Club of Philadelphia ❤ Gamma Iota Sigma, Sigma Chapter NewChurch LIVE Waldron/Mancini Families Gamma Sigma Sigma Gemini Organ Recovery Systems WSFS Bank Our community also came together to celebrate special memories Alumni Chapter PA Masons (Lodge #751) Youth Volunteer Corps and moments from visits to the Family House on social media. Girls Scout Troop #30140 Parzival Give Moore Life Pat and Peters Pals BOLD = Home Cook Hero All Star GLDP Hospital Services Patrice Green All-Stars are committed volunteer Thank you to all who made a financial gift, donated a gift card, meal GLDP Transplant Coordinators Pat’s Wings groups who provide a meal to or items for our pantry, attended one of our educational webinars, Good Shepherd Penn Partners Patsy’s ShamRocks Family House guests through the TOP: Encouraging cards for Family House guests created by Youth Volunteer Corps of Grant Thornton Pattinson Family Home Cook Heroes program at Hearts of Gold Patty’s Pose least 12 times in a calendar year. Greater Philadelphia; MIDDLE LEFT: Janet Dennis provided home-made masks to the hosted a Facebook fundraiser, shared a social media post, or simply Family House and also raised funds to support our mission; MIDDLE RIGHT: Ear guards do- reached out to ask how we were doing! nated by a family member of Home Cook Hero volunteer group, Ed’s Eyes were provided Home Cook Heroes team photos are available to view on the Family House’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/GiftofLifeFamilyHouse. to the Family House to help alleviate some of the discomfort caused by wearing Even though normal operations at the Family House looked different a protective face mask for long periods of time; BOTTOM: Hand sanitizer from La Salle While you’re there, don’t forget to like our Facebook page, tag yourself and your teammates, and share your photo to help spread awareness University students and Kiki Vodka as part of the university’s entrepreneurship initiative. from years past, we were still able to come together and support of the Family House mission! Tag us and use #HomeCookHeroes for your chance to win a special gift from the Family House! L-R: Pat O’Brien, Ethan Pecko, Sarah Donch, Joe Kauffman what matters most—giving transplant families a place to call home. 2 3 Live from the Family House Caregiver Lifeline Update and Q&A In May, we held a special webinar, “Live from the Family House: “I never know when my phone Sp tlight as an irregularly-shaped brown spot or changing mole, often on the back o or legs. All three types of skin cancers are curable if caught early, but may Update and Q&A,” to share what’s been happening at our home rings – could this be the call I’ve away from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. been waiting for?” said Sarah. “At cause extensive local destruction and even death if left untreated. the Family House, I found comfort Jan L. Weinstock, Vice President, Administration and General in being able to talk with others There are a number of steps patients can take to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer. The transplant recipient is their own first line of Counsel gave an update on Family House operations, volunteer and share stories with those who defense. The first principle of skin protection is to avoid sun exposure and programs, and some new construction projects—including our two really understand, and in just how Sarah Reesey and Zach new guest rooms and 4th floor community meeting space, as well commercial tanning booths.